Building Insulation System

ABSTRACT

A building insulation system for roofs and walls supported from the interior side of the building, which eliminates thermal bridges and bottom side ceiling fasteners to support the insulation system materials during the insulation and exterior sheeting process of the building construction. The insulation system creates an air gap space layer in roofs and in walls between the exterior wall and roof sheeting panels and the interior sheet material, which supports the insulation material layer. An air gap space enables active solar energy collection and its use to reduce the overall purchased energy for operation of the building. The insulation system preferably includes a support sheet material, a sheet material tensioning devices, an insulation material layer, insulation hanger retention devices, heat and air collection and distribution ducts, dampers, louvers, pipes, dehumidification and condensate collection devices used in the air gap layers of the building to improve the building energy efficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to energy efficient buildingsand more specifically to a building insulation system, which providesbetter insulating properties than that of the prior art and whichremoves humidity typically trapped in the walls, roof and insulation ofthe building.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

A brochure MB304 published by the North American InsulationManufacturers Association (NAIMA) continuously since 1991 describes thestate of the art most typically used to insulate roofs and walls ofpre-engineered metal buildings. This type of building currentlyrepresents over 40% of all non-residential buildings of two stories orless built in the US each year.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,664 to Harkins discloses a building insulationsystem. U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,298 to Harkins discloses a buildinginsulation system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,875 of Harkins discloses aslide-in building insulation system. U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,298 to Harkinsdiscloses a roof fabric dispensing device for insulation systems and airbarriers over the exterior plane of the building structural members.U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,311 is a device for installing a vapor retarder overthe purlins or joist to support insulation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,059 is arolled fabric carriage device for unrolling a vapor retarding fabricover the tops of purlins which is used to support insulation. U.S. Pat.No. 6,216,416 is a system for installing insulation over purlins. U.S.Pat. No. 5,921,057 is an apparatus for dispensing an insulation supportsheet over the purlins. U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,081 is a method for payingout an insulation support sheet for insulating a building roof over thepurlins. U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,212 is an insulated roof over the purlins.There are temporary buildings, which have a waterproof coverings overthe tops of framing members to form a roof covering and which arecommonly used for agricultural and storage purposes.

One common problem with the design of current buildings havingintegrated thermal insulation systems is the requirement for structuralfastening of the insulation support apparatus through the plane of theinsulation system. The “through-fastening” creates multiple thermalbridges, which reduces the building thermal performance up to fiftypercent. The most predominant methods used to insulate pre-engineeredmetal buildings from as early as the 1950s, until today is simplydraping the insulation over the exterior of the building structuralmembers for support, applying the exterior building sheeting directlyover the insulation and then applying the exterior sheeting attachmentfasteners through the exterior sheeting, through the insulation from theexterior into the underlying building roof and wall structural members.This method results in thermal bridging fasteners with a frequency ofabout one fastener per every ten square feet of exterior surface area orless.

A second common problem is that insulation products in building roofsand walls are sandwiched between the roof or wall structural members andthe overlying building exterior sheeting with compression of theinsulation thickness and its inherent loss of thermal performance whichresults from this compression. Placing the roof and wall insulationtightly against the exterior roof and wall sheeting panels blocks thesolar heat energy from being absorbed and radiated off the interiorsurface of the sheeting materials for any practical use. The solarenergy that hits the building roof and wall surfaces is lost from anypractical collection and use. At the same time, fossil fuel energy ispurchased to provide heating, cooling and hot water heating for thebuilding occupants and processes.

The third common problem of achieving energy efficient buildings is thatthe thermal insulation has traditionally been installed during the roofand wall sheeting process. Insulation methods which require theinstallation of fasteners from the interior during the integratedinsulation and exterior sheeting process are shunned by installers ofthese materials in favor of methods that simply compress the insulationbetween the roof and wall structural members and the roof and wallsheeting panels with only externally applied fasteners. Such methodseliminate the need for fastening from the interior side of the roof andwall structure during the insulation and sheeting process and thereforeare preferred by installers.

This practice severely limits the thermal performance of the buildingsto much less than the desirable economic insulation levels. Due to theinsulation thickness reductions and thermal bridging, building thermalperformance is much less than what is required to honestly meet theminimum installed thermal performance criteria set forth by the variousstate energy codes. The most common building insulation methods not onlycompress the insulation thickness by variable percentages, but alsothermally bridge the exterior conductive building sheeting surfaces tothe interior exposed thermally conductive surfaces of the purlins,joists and girts. These structural configurations maximize theuncontrolled heat transfer between the two thermally bridged surfaces onthe opposite sides of the thermal insulation layer and will frequentlyresult in seasonal condensation on the interior exposed buildingstructural members. The roof and wall structural members become very hotin the summer, when the heat is not wanted in the building interiorconditioned space and are cold in the winter, when the heat is wanted inthe building interior conditioned. Buildings that are thermally bridgedbetween through the thermal insulation with exterior exposed conductivesheeting materials and interior exposed conductive roof purlins or joistand exposed conductive wall girts result in the opposite seasonal heattransfer effect that is desired and major loss of heating energy.

The cold exterior surface temperatures in the winter typically float upand down crossing over the dew point temperature of the interiorconditioned air and also of the dew point temperature of the air trappedwithin the insulation of the roof and wall assemblies of the building.Fiberglass insulation is mostly air. This condition results incondensation of the water vapor that increases conductivity and reducesthe insulation thermal performance, which may result in permanentbuilding structural damage and may also interfere with the building use.If the condensed liquid water accumulates within the building roof andwall assemblies it may also result in dripping and damage to interiorbuilding contents.

Prior art like that disclosed in the Harkins U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,664invention uses a steel strap support system, which temporarily spansacross building bays with steel straps fastened at their ends and ofteninstalled in a woven mesh. A flexible sheet material is customfabricated to fit the designated building areas, referred to as buildingbays, with the absolute minimum of field seams except along the buildingbay perimeter beams, where there is no problem sealing the edges as theworkmen work on the top side of the rafter beams. The flexible sheetmaterial is spread out and clamped in position on the platform ofspanned support strapping and then fasteners are required to beinstalled through the steel straps and sheet material from the buildinginterior into the inside flange of building roof purlins or joist fromthe interior. This method requires approximately one interior appliedfastener for every 30 square feet of the building roof or wallstructures. Each fastener is a thermal bridge between the steelstrapping and the metal structure to which it is attached.

The invention of the U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,664 creates a defined space forinsulation to expand, which eliminates virtually all unwantedcompression of the insulation in the roof structures. This method alsocompletely isolates all-of-the highly conductive metal roof and wallpurlins or joist surfaces from direct contact with the interiorconditioned air. This system however requires the installation of thefasteners from the interior of the building during the integratedprocess of installing the insulation and the sheeting of the building'sexterior roof surfaces. The Harkins '664 patent, while much morethermally efficient than typical methods, is often avoided in favor ofmuch less thermally efficient insulation products and methods which donot require fasteners to be installed from the building interior duringthe integrated roof insulation and exterior roof sheeting process.

Another problem that occurs in metal panel sheeted buildings is seasonalcondensation problems in the wall and roof systems. This phenomenonbecomes particularly evident with metal-sheeted buildings because themetal panel temperatures change almost instantly with a change inexterior temperatures. Typically, water vapor within the buildinginterior conditioned space concentrates along with a natural heatgradient at the highest elevations within the building heated space. Theconcentration of water vapor in air is often measured and expressed asrelative humidity. The warmer the air mixture is, the more the weight ofwater, in vapor form, it can hold. Water vapor will condense on anysurface of the building structure it contacts, which is below its dewpoint temperature. The dew point temperature is the temperature at whichthe relative humidity of the air contacting the cooler surface willreach 100% relative humidity and begin depositing the excess water vaporas liquid water on that cooler surface. A similar phenomenon occurswithin an air mixture itself as it cools and this condensation manifestsitself as fog, dew, rain and other forms of precipitation.

In buildings, water vapor will migrate through the vapor retarders,through poorly sealed joints, through staple holes, through gaps, etc.and will condense on the interior surface of the exterior sheetingpanels when the exterior surface temperatures are below the dew pointtemperature of the air mixture within the insulation space of the roofand wall assemblies of the building. The typical preferred insulationmethods fill the roof and wall assemblies to the exterior sheeting andany moisture is trapped inside of the wall and roof assemblies. Themoisture may condense and may accumulate seasonally during coldtemperatures. This trapped water vapor and resultant liquid water willcause premature deterioration of the building roof and wall buildingcomponents and will shorten the useful life of the building if it can'tescape naturally. Many older metal buildings leak air or breathe throughthe eave and wall flashings and the unsealed wall panel joints due towind pressure differences. This breathing allowed much of the trappedwater vapor to escape, but at the expense of thermal insulationperformance. New energy code requirements for sealing all constructionjoints will essentially eliminate this typical water vapor escapemechanism resulting in a much greater potential for condensation andaccumulation of liquid water within these building roof and wallassemblies of the future.

Buildings that have the compressed thermal insulation, buildings thatattempt to fill the roof and wall cavities, buildings that havethousands of staple holes along uniformly spaced insulation facingseams, buildings that have substantially thermally bridged conductiveinterior and exterior surfaces, buildings that trap and accumulatecondensed water vapor within the insulated roof and wall assemblies, andbuildings which repel the free solar heat energy hitting its exteriorsurfaces require significantly greater heating and cooling equipmentcapacities, require excessive fuel piping, require excessive electricalwiring, require excessive service capacities and cost significantly moreto heat, cool and ventilate than would be required, if the abovementioned problems were solved.

Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a buildinginsulation system, which provides the following useful advantages:

That creates a defined space of sufficient air volume and distancebetween the roof and wall thermal insulation layer and the conductiveexterior sheeting materials to achieve the economic insulation thicknessand air gap space to operably manage the intrinsic air mixture, the airflows within and the collection of solar heat from the adjacent heatabsorbing, conducting and radiating surfaces of the exterior buildingsheeting and of their thermally bridged roof purlins and wall girtstructural members.

That creates a continuous insulation layer without having structuralthermal bridging, nor having fasteners inserted through the insulationlayer to support itself. An insulation layer that is supportedcompletely from the interior side without the need for any fastenersinstalled from the interior during the integrated ceiling thermalinsulation and exterior sheeting process of a building.

That provides for the natural collection and concentration of heatenergy within defined air gap spaces created within the roof and wallassemblies, which heat can be actively collected from the defined spacesby one of several methods and used to reduce energy consumption for thebuilding, its occupants and related processes.

That provides for water vapor control within the defined roof and wallassembly spaces to concentrate the water vapor by natural means and toactively remove and collect the water from the roof and wall defined airgap spaces as required to minimize any damaging accumulation and allowthe simple collection and use of the clean water for various usefulpurposes.

That maximizes the absorption, collection and transfer of solar heatenergy hitting the exterior surfaces of the building and to actively usethe clean solar energy to reduce the consumption of purchased energy forthe building interior space conditioning and related use processes. Thecolors and the emissivities of the roof and wall exterior sheeting panelsurfaces can be selected to maximize solar energy absorption, transferand use of the free solar energy, as opposed to reflecting it back intothe external environment with it's value completely wasted, as iscurrently the predominant practice and also part of a growing trendknown as “cool roofs” and highly reflective, “low emissivity” surfacecoating.

That use an active heat collection duct and piping systems installed atoptimal locations within the defined air gap layers created within thewalls and roof assemblies as a source for concentrated heat to be useddirectly with air circulation and/or indirectly through the use of aheat exchanger system such as a water pumping and storage system withfan-coil heat transfer units, baseboard type heating radiators, or theuse of electric powered, refrigerant type of compressor driven electricheat pumps that collect heat from the pre-heated, pre-concentrated airwithin the solar wall and solar roof air gap layers in lieu of exteriorunheated ambient air as a source for the heat energy it collects andtransfers. Efficiencies of over 50 Btu's per watt are expected from thisnew solar heat pump building invention.

That would facilitate the collection, concentration and storage of theclean solar heat energy in water stored in insulated reservoirs for offpeak demand use for space heating and hot water production processes.Excess heat energy collected can be used to melt snow and ice off roofs,driveways, sidewalks, etc. to eliminate typical removal costs, savingequipment costs, time and additional energy. The relatively clean waterfrom snow and ice melting can also be collected, and recycled for manyuseful purposes.

That interconnects the wall solar energy air gap collection system tothe roof solar energy air gap layer collection system which willfacilitate the transfer of concentrated heat from the wall air gap layerto the roof air gap layer on demand. This heat transfer allows thebuilding roof to be kept free of snow and ice by using solar heat energycollected in the wall air gap layer to maintain the solar exposed roofabsorptive surface area exposed to direct solar energy to absorb themaximum solar energy possible.

That will use free solar heat from the solar wall collection system toeliminate ice damming on cold roof edges by keeping them free of iceaccumulation caused by chronic build-up of ice from very slow melt ofsnow and ice off the exterior roof sheeting due to thermal bridging fromthe interior conditioned space and through the compressed thermalinsulation.

That uses a subterranean air tubing and air conditioning system topre-condition incoming ventilation air in all seasons to save energy andto also to simultaneously remove water vapor from warm, humid, incomingair during the summer cooling season, thereby reducing both the latentand sensible cooling loads required to maintain the interior conditionedspace temperature and humidity at desired levels.

That simplifies the installation process and eliminates the requirementfor any fastening from the interior of the building during theintegrated process of installing the insulation support sheet material,the roof insulation and the exterior sheeting panels of the buildingroof.

That eliminates thermal bridging through the roof insulation to supportthe insulation layer.

That eliminates thermal bridging through the wall insulation layer forsupport of the insulation.

That reduces the need for energy for building environmental spaceconditioning to such a low level, that for practical investment paybackreduces the building life cycle cost to a degree that renewable energygeneration may be added to the building project so that it annuallyrequires a net total of zero or less purchased energy for typicalbuilding conditioning and lighting loads, excluding other user loads, ifany.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a building insulation system, whichincludes better insulating properties than that of the prior art andwhich removes humidity typically trapped in the walls, roof andinsulation of the building. A solar heat pump building preferablyincludes a building, at least one air gap heat collection layer, atension supported flexible sheet material layer, a material insulationlayer retained by the sheet material, a plurality of air ducts, aplurality of air duct dampers, a plurality of heat collection pipes, andan active mechanical heat pump collection, concentration, transfer anddistribution system. The building is preferably a metal building, butother types of buildings may also be adapted for use with the invention.The typical metal building includes a plurality of rafter columns, aplurality of end columns, a plurality of girts, a plurality of girtclips, a plurality of rafters, a plurality of purlins, a plurality ofpurlin clips, a plurality roof panels, a plurality of wall panels, and aplurality of bolts, nuts, fasteners, flashings and sealants.

The plurality of rafter columns and the plurality of end columns areattached to a foundation to form a perimeter of the metal building. Theplurality of girts are retained by clips extending off the exteriorsurfaces of the rafter columns and by a plurality of girt clipsextending off the exterior surfaces of the end wall columns with girtsspanning between adjacent pairs of the plurality of rafter columns girtclips and between adjacent pairs of the plurality of end wall columngirt clips. The plurality of rafters are attached to a top of theplurality of rafter columns. Rafters are attached to the top of thebuilding corner rafter columns at the end walls and also are attachedbetween building corner rafters columns to the tops of a plurality ofthe end wall columns. The plurality of roof purlins are retained by aplurality of purlin clips extending above the exterior surface of theplurality of rafters. The plurality of ceiling sheet material supportstruts are retained spanning between, or over, adjacent pairs of theplurality of rafters.

The solar heat pump building roof system includes the exterior roofsheeting panels, a purlin structural support system, an air gap heatcollection layer, a material insulation layer, at least one insulationsupporting sheet material, sheet material support struts and eave insidecorner sheet material support struts. Each ridge sheet material supportstrut is attached spanning between adjacent pairs of rafters andsupported by the building rafters. At least one sheet material supportstrut is attached below a ridge of the building roof and defines theinside sheet material ceiling line below the ridge. Each sheet materialeave support strut is attached in an inside corner between two adjacentrafters/rafter columns and defines the inside corner of the ceiling andwall junction of the sheet material in the building. For ease ofinstallation a sheet material may extend continuously from a ridge sheetmaterial support strut around the outside of an eave support strut to atermination point at a floor of the building or alternatively to atermination point created between the floor and the inside cornersupport strut. The ceiling sheet material is attached at opposingtermination points with adhesive, a tensioning device or any othersuitable attachment devices and methods. At least one tensioning deviceis preferred for each sheet material to control and manage deflection ofthe sheet material within desirable limits.

Alternatively, the sheet material extends from the floor of one side ofthe building around the exterior of one inside corner eave supportstrut, over a ridge support strut, around the exterior of the oppositewall inside corner eave support strut and downward for attachment to thefloor on an opposing side of the building. Alternatively the ceilingsheet material may be terminated at an intermediate ceiling, eave orwall support strut. Intermediate support struts may be attached spanningbetween or over two adjacent roof rafters, between to adjacent raftercolumns or between two roof purlin clips or wall girt clips.

The ceiling material insulation layer is inserted between at least oneceiling sheet material and a bottom of the plurality of roof sheets andpreferably a bottom of the roof purlins with a air gap layer created tothe exterior side of the material insulation layer. A plurality of ventspacer blocks may be attached to the interior or exterior facing flangesof the purlins prior to installation of the exterior metal roof panels.The vent spacer blocks have vent holes to insure the heat and convectionair naturally flows between the roof air gap layer spaces betweenadjacent purlins within the solar heat pump building roof. The pluralityof thermally conductive metal roof panels are attached to the outersurface flanges of a plurality of the roof purlins. The building air gapheat collection layer is thereby created between an outer surface of theceiling insulation layer and the inside surface of the roof metalsheeting panels. The purlin clips on the rafters may be extended toprovide the desired distance for the ceiling insulation layer withoutcompression of the designed insulation thickness. The typical metalbuilding ridge cap may be used to complete the roof at the buildingridge but with less efficiency than the optional multi-vent. An optionalridge mounted multi-vent extends through a ridge of the roof and extendsany length of the roof desired by the designer. The ridge mountedmulti-vent replaces the typical metal building ridge cap and is locatedbetween two ridge purlins or at the high side of the building if thebuilding is a single slope building. The multi-vent provides heatcollection, heat concentration, heat transfer, ventilation,dehumidification, day-lighting and building management functions.

The solar heat pump building wall system preferably includes an exteriormetal wall panel, thermally conductive metal girts, an air gap heatcollection layer, vent spacer blocks on interior girt flanges, a firstexterior sheet material which is typically an extension of the ceilingsheet material, a material insulation layer, a second interior wallsheet material which covers the wall material insulation layer from theexposure to the building interior space, and a means of using theconcentrated heat within the air gap layer(s). The solar heat pumpbuilding end wall systems contain the same general components as a sidewall system. The solar heat pump buildings preferably include aplurality of inner girt vent spacers and may also include a plurality ofouter girt vent spacers containing a plurality of air vent holes toensure the natural concentration of heat energy at the top of the wallair gap layer and allow convection air flows between girt spaces withinthe wall heat collection air gap layer of a system. Solar collected heatrises naturally and concentrates at the highest points of the wall androof air gap layer(s) that it can achieve. A plurality of outer girtvent spacers may be attached to the exterior facing flanges of the girtsprior to installation of the exterior metal wall sheeting panels. Theinner girt vent spacers are attached to the interior facing flanges ofthe girts prior to installation of the first (exterior) sheet materialwhich defines the interior surface of the wall air gap layer.

A plurality of rigid formed insulation hangers are then attached to theinterior facing surface of the first (exterior) wall sheet material. Amaterial insulation layer is attached in substantial contact without theinterior-most surface of the first (exterior) wall sheet material usingthe pre-installed insulation hangers. The material insulation is impaledon the rigid formed insulation hangers designed for this purpose whichare completely supported by the exterior wall sheet material and notfastened to the building girts to eliminate thermal bridging to thematerial insulation layer. A top of each second (interior) wall sheetmaterial is securely attached to the ceiling sheet material, such thatit's outer surface is in substantial contact with an inner-most surfaceof the wall material insulation layer. A bottom of each interior wallsheet material is attached to floor with adhesives, tensioning device,or other other suitable attachment means, such that it contacts the wallmaterial insulation layer. The material insulation layer is therebysandwiched between the first and second wall sheet material layers. Thesolar heat collecting wall air gap layer is thereby created between aninner surface of the exterior wall panel and the outer surface of thefirst (exterior) wall sheet material layer

The solar heat pump building wall heat collection air gap layer ispreferably connected to the roof heat collecting air gap layer at theirintersection at the building eave area so that the concentrated wallheat may be naturally transferred to the roof air gap layer, preferablyon demand, by using a damper system at this junction, and the wall heatenergy therefore used to keep the building roof heat absorbing surfacesfully exposed to absorb solar energy by keeping the roof surfaces freeof snow and ice with free solar heat.

The plurality of wall ducts include side wall ducts and end wall ducts.The plurality of side wall ducts preferably include two side wall eaveline roof ducts, two side wall upper wall ducts, two side wall baseducts and two side wall subterranean air ducts. The plurality of endwall ducts preferably include two upper wall ducts and two end base wallducts. Each duct includes a rectangular (preferably square) tube, whichpreferably includes a plurality of air flow holes formed through thesides thereof. A damper strip slot is formed in all four sides toreceive a sliding damper strip. The damper strip also includes aplurality of air flow holes. The hole locations and hole sizes in thedamper strip are engineered to equalize the collection (intake) anddistribution (exhaust) of air flows evenly through the wall and roof airgap layers along the length of each duct to maximize the collection andconcentration efficiency of heat energy rising through the walls androof of the solar heat pump building. A damper strip actuation device isused to open and close the plurality of air flow holes of the variousair flow paths on demand by sliding the damper strips in a damper slotof a duct. Duct end caps are used to enclose the air streams between theends of duct sections as desired.

Each side wall eave roof duct is located at the top of the wall air gaplayer to communicate with the roof air gap layer. Each side wall upperwall duct is located immediately below a side wall eave roof duct andcommunicates with the wall air gap layer. The side wall eave roof ductsare capable of receiving outside air through its air flow holes or abranch duct which communicates the upper wall duct or with the outsideair. The side wall eave roof ducts are also capable of receiving heatand air through its air flow holes or a branch duct which communicateswith an upper side wall duct. The upper side wall ducts and upper endwall ducts collect heat energy and air from the respective wall heatcollecting air gap layers through the air flow holes which communicatewith the wall air gap layer below the respective upper wall ducts.

The side wall and end wall base ducts are at the base of the respectivewall heat collecting air gap layers. A wall base duct is locatedadjacent the wall sheeting panels, above the floor, with air flow holeswhich communicate with the wall air gap layer. A side wall or end wallbase duct is capable of receiving outside air through its air flow holesor a branch duct which communicate with the outside air. The side wallor end wall base duct is also capable of receiving interior space airthrough its air flow holes or a branch duct which communicate with theinterior space air. The side wall and end wall base ducts are capable ofsupplying air to the bottom end of the wall heat collection air gaplayer from either the outside air or the inside air or both, through itsair flow holes which communicate with the wall air gap layer. The airflows are preferably controlled by an active damper in a damper slot orin the branch duct, as applicable.

Two subterranean air ducts are located adjacent to the interiorfoundation walls at two opposite building walls, at or below floor leveland extend substantially the length of each respective opposing buildingwall. A wall subterranean air duct communicates with the interior spaceair through air flow holes or branch ducts. The opposite subterraneanair duct communicates with the outside ambient air through a branchduct, containing a damper and an internal, air stream mounted fanpowered by energy. A plurality of subterranean tubing is located below afloor of the building preferably at a depth of six to eight feet witheach opposing tube end connected to the opposing subterranean ductlocated near the floor adjacent to the opposing foundation walls of thebuilding. Warm outside air flowed through the plurality of subterraneanducts and subterranean tubing will be cooled by a cooler groundtemperatures during the cooling season. Outside warm humid air flowedthrough a plurality of the cooler subterranean ducts and subterraneantubes will be naturally dehumidified by the cooler earth groundtemperatures during the cooling season. Cooler air flowed through theplurality of subterranean ducts and subterranean tubes will be warmed bya warmer earth ground temperature during the heating season.

It is preferable that the plurality of subterranean ducts be orientedeither parallel to the ends of the building or parallel to the sides ofa building which are substantially opposite each other and the pluralityof the subterranean tube ends connect between the to opposing wallsubterranean ducts.

It is preferred that each subterranean tube be sloped to a low point andconnected to a common drain pipe to collect seasonal condensation andpipe it to run by gravity to a common collection reservoir for recyclingfor other uses.

The ridge mounted multi-vent device includes a plurality of vent modulesattached in series. The plurality of vent modules are connected to eachother end-to-end with any suitable attachment device or method such asinstalling bolts or screws. Each vent module includes a box unit. Thebox unit includes a vent base, two end walls, two side walls and two boxside flanges. The two end walls extend upward from opposing ends of thevent base and the two side walls extend upward from opposing sides ofthe vent base. A single flange extends outward from a top of each boxside wall. At least one opening is formed through each end wall to allowthe flow of air between adjacent modules. A hole may also be formedthrough each end wall to receive a heat collecting pipe apparatus. Thispipe apparatus would include pipe, heat collecting fins, condensationcollecting trough, joint connectors, support brackets and drain tubing.

The top and bottom covers include a cover portion and a pair of coverside flanges. The cover side flange extends from each side of the coverportion. A sealing material may be placed between the cover side flangesand the box side flanges. A sealing material may be placed between thecover ends and the box end panels. The cover is fabricated from amaterial, which is light collecting, light diffusing, lighttransmitting, light concentrating, light reflecting or opaque to light.The box unit may have side wall and end wall wall extensions with areadapted to make the overall height of the box unit fit the thickness ofthe building roof assembly to close any air leaks between the interiorspace air and the roof insulation and air gap layer.

Damper strip slots are formed in the box side wall panels to receive asliding damper strip similar to that of the wall ducts. A plurality ofair flow holes are formed through the box side wall panels within theslot. The damper strip includes a plurality air flow holes, whichgenerally align with the plurality air flow holes in the box unit sidewalls. A continuous damper strip may be installed spanning betweenmultiple multi-vent modules to be operated by a single damper actuator.The damper strip may be shifted in the damper slot with a damper stripactuation device to allow the air flow holes to be opened or closed toany degree by sliding a damper strip in the damper slot. The collectedsolar heat entering the multi-vent is naturally concentrated from theroof solar heat collection air gap layer of the roof on either side ofthe ridge or both. The solar heat collected in the wall air gap layermay be extracted at the top of the wall air gap layer or passed onupward into the roof solar heat collection air gap layer to be carriedfurther upward and concentrated below the ridge cap or in the multi-ventfor extraction for direct use as heated air, for extraction for indirectuse by a heat absorption pipe of a heat pump for space heating, forheating process water, for the generation of power, for other usefulpurposes or may simply be exhausted to the atmosphere to cool thebuilding roof. The optional multi-vent forms a heat and air collectionduct when joined end-to-end which can be connected to an in-line branchduct containing a powered fan or to an air handler unit to efficientlymove and concentrate the solar heated air of the solar heat pumpbuilding air gap layers for useful purposes, rather than simply wastedas is the current state of the art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide abuilding insulation system, which creates an air gap layer between theroof and wall thermal insulation layer and the conductive exteriorsheeting and framing materials to operably manage the intrinsic airmixtures, the heat and air flows and the collection of solar heat fromthe adjacent heat absorbing surfaces of the exterior building sheetingpanels and thermally bridged to conductive roof purlins and wall girts.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a buildinginsulation system, which creates a continuous insulation layer withouthaving structural thermal bridged fasteners inserted through theinsulation layer to retain the insulation system layer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a buildinginsulation system, which has an insulation layer without fasteners beinginstalled from the interior side through a sheet material to roofpurlins or wall girt framing.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide abuilding insulation system, which does not require the installation ofbottom side fasteners during the process of installation of theinsulation and roofing of a building.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a method ofinstallation of a ceiling sheet by tensioning a sheet material overunderlying support struts to safely support it's designed loads belowthe purlin or joist structures of a building without the need forfasteners to be installed from the interior side during the process ofinstalling the material insulation layer and roof sheeting materials tocomplete a building roof system.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a buildinginsulation system with a tensioned ceiling sheet that will provide fallprotection safety for workmen installing building construction materialsabove the upper surface of an installed tensioned ceiling sheet.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a buildinginsulation system with a tensioned ceiling sheet material systemstructure, which will support a 400 pound weight object, nominally 30inches plus or minus two inches in diameter, dropped from height notless than 42 inches above the plane of the tensioned ceiling sheetmaterial without the weight falling more than six feet below the bottomplane of the sheet material.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a buildinginsulation system with an installer safe fall prevention featureemploying a tensioned ceiling sheet material building structure thatwill support in tension, between opposing attachment points, a minimumof 1000 pounds of static weight superimposed on a upper side of thesheet material.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide abuilding insulation system to create a solar heat pump buildingstructure which provides for the natural concentration of heat energywithin the defined air gap spaces created within the roof or wallassemblies, where heat can be actively managed and collected from thedefined spaces by any of several methods and used to reduce energyconsumption for the building, its occupants or for other processes.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide abuilding insulation system to create a solar heat pump buildingstructure for water vapor collection and control within the roof andwall defined air gap layer to concentrate the water vapor by naturalmeans and actively condense and collect the liquid water from the roofand wall defined air gap layer spaces of the building.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide abuilding insulation system to create a solar heat pump buildingstructure, which maximizes the absorption, collection and transfer ofsolar heat energy hitting the exterior surfaces of the building for theactive use of the solar energy to reduce the consumption of purchasedenergy for the building interior space conditioning and processes.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide abuilding insulation system to create a solar heat pump buildingstructure, which uses an active heat collection piping system installedat desirable locations within the defined air gap spaces created withina wall or roof assembly as a source for naturally concentrated heatenergy to be used directly with active air circulation and/or throughthe use of an active indirect heat exchanger system.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide abuilding insulation system to create a solar heat pump building, whichwould facilitate the collection, concentration and storage of the solarheat energy in water stored in reservoirs for off peak demand use forspace heating and for hot water processes.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide abuilding insulation system to create a solar heat pump building, whichuses a subterranean air tubing as an air conditioning system topre-condition incoming ventilation air in any season to save energy andto also to simultaneously remove water vapor from incoming humid air.

Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide abuilding insulation system to create a solar heat pump building, whichreduces the need for energy for the building environmental spaceconditioning to such a low level, that for very practical investment,renewable energy generation may be added to the building so that itannually requires zero or less net purchased energy for typical spaceconditioning and lighting needs excluding other user loads.

These and additional objects, structures, advantages, features andbenefits of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective cutaway view of a typical metal building.

FIG. 1 a is a perspective cutaway view of a typical metal building witha plurality of ducts installed.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional end view of a metal building, beforeinstallation of a tensioned ceiling or wall sheet material in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional end view of a metal building, as a sheetmaterial is partially installed over sheet material support struts inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional end view of a metal building, afterinstallation of a sheet material when a sheet material is terminated ata ridge sheet material support strut in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 a is an enlarged cross sectional end view of a ridge ceilingsupport strut for retaining a ceiling sheet material in a metal buildingwith a termination of the sheet material at one of two adjacent ridgeceiling sheet material support struts in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 b is an enlarged cross sectional end view of an eave insidecorner support strut for retaining a ceiling sheet material in a metalbuilding in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a metal building containing purlins and ceilingsheet material support struts, prior to the installation of a ceilingsheet material, a thermal insulation layer and roof sheeting panels inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional top view of a metal building below purlinswith at one ceiling sheet material installed and another in a cut-a-wayview showing underlying ceiling sheet material support struts inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cut-a-way top view of a metal building with a ceilinginsulation layer installed on top of at least one ceiling sheet materialprior to the installation of any roof sheeting panels in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cut-a-way top view of a metal building with a ceilinginsulation layer installed on top of at least one ceiling sheet materialand a roof panel installed on top of a plurality of purlins, an air gaplayer is formed between a ceiling insulation layer and a roof sheetingpanel in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional end view of a metal building withsubterranean air conditioning ducts and tubing installed below a floorwith a condensate drain pipe and water collection reservoir inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross sectional end view at a side wall columnlocation of a metal building illustrating a side wall from a foundationand floor to the eave and roof of the building in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 a is a turnbuckle tensioning device for tensioning a wall orceiling sheet material.

FIG. 10 b is a right angle take-up tensioning device for tensioning awall or ceiling sheet material.

FIG. 10 c is a hook and treaded rod tensioning device for tensioning awall or ceiling sheet material.

FIG. 10 d is a ratchet strap tensioning device for tensioning a wall orceiling sheet material.

FIG. 10 e is a turning shaft tensioning device for tensioning a wall orceiling sheet material.

FIG. 10 f is a single adjustable strut tensioning device for tensioninga wall or ceiling sheet material.

FIG. 10 g is a bidirectional adjustable strut tensioning device fortensioning a wall or ceiling sheet material.

FIG. 10 h is a strap winch tensioning device for tensioning a wall orceiling sheet material.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross sectional view of a metal buildingillustrating an end wall from foundation and floor to a gable end eaveand roof of a building at the location of a ceiling sheet materialsupport strut in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a top view looking into a side wall or an end wall of a metalbuilding illustrating an air gap layer, a material insulation layer anda girt with interior and exterior flange mounted vent spacers inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an end view looking into a side wall or an end wall of ametal building illustrating an air gap layer, a material insulationlayer and a girt with interior and exterior flange mounted vent spacersin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross sectional end view of a heat collectingdehumidifier pipe with square fins retained above a water collectiontrough in a ridge air gap layer or in a ridge mounted multi-vent, whichmay also be used in an upper wall air gap layer or upper wall duct tocollect heat and dehumidify the wall or roof air gap air in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross sectional end view of a heat collectioncoil/dehumidifier retained above a water collection trough in a wallduct or a multi-vent in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a single duct module with anend cap, but without damper strips in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a damper strip for insertion into adamper strip slot of a duct module or multi-vent module in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a ridge mounted multi-vent, asimilar multi-vent turned ninety degrees may be mounted in place of anupper wall duct in a sidewall or end wall to function for systeminspection, wall daylighting purposes and other uses in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 19 is an end view of a box unit of a ridge mounted multi-vent witha damper slot formed in the opposing sides thereof to retain twooperable damper strips in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an end view of a box end panel extension of a ridge mountedmulti-vent in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional end view of a typical metal building ridgecap made of a formed corrugated roof panel in a building ridge, whichmatches the corrugation configuration of roof panels.

FIG. 22 is an alternative cross-section end view of a typical metalbuilding ridge cap formed into two flat planes and two formed metalclosures to fill in the corrugation profile of the roof sheeting panels,a closure installed on each side of a ridge, the ridge cap does not needto match the roof panel corrugation with this design.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a modular duct connection coupling inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a side view of a duct module with the duct connect couplinginstalled on one end in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a bi-directional insulation hangerdevice designed to quickly impale and suspend from a wall sheet materialon one side and to support an impaled insulation layer on the opposingside without any thermal bridging to a metal wall girts or to theinterior space air in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a rear view of the bi-directional insulation hanger deviceillustrated in FIG. 25 in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 10,there is shown a cut-away perspective view of a metal building 100. Withreference to FIGS. 10, 11, the metal building 100 preferably includes aheat collection air gap layer 10, 12, air vent spacers 36, 38, aninsulation retaining sheet material 14, 30, a material insulation layer16, 32, 34 and a plurality of ducts 40, 42, 44, 48, 50. The metalbuilding 100 is shown, but other types of buildings may also be used.The metal building 100 includes a plurality of rafter columns 102, aplurality of end columns 104, a plurality of wall girts 106, a pluralityof rafters 108, a plurality of purlins 110, 128, 134, a plurality roofexterior sheeting panels 112, a plurality of wall exterior sheetingpanels 114 and a peripheral base channel 116. The plurality of raftercolumns 102 and the plurality of end columns 104 are attached to theperipheral base foundation 118. The peripheral base channel 116 isattached to a foundation 118 to form a perimeter of the metal building100. The plurality of girts 106 are retained between horizontallyextended girt clips 111, off the exterior surfaces of the plurality ofrafter columns 102 and end columns 104. The plurality of rafters 108 areattached to a top of the plurality of rafter columns 102. The pluralityof purlins 110, 128, 134 are retained between vertically extended purlinclips 113 above the exterior faces the plurality of rafters 108.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 16, the heat collecting air gap layersinclude a roof heat collecting ceiling air gap layer 10 and a wall heatcollecting air gap layer 12, which communicate with each other on demandthrough duct damper holes 56 to increase the total heat collectorsurface area available to absorb solar heat. The solar heat from theeast, west, south or north walls can be individually directed throughducts 40,42,48 through damper holes 56 to the solar exposed roof 120, tomelt snow and ice, thereby maximizing the total heat absorption surfacearea to achieve greatest volume and heat energy concentration.

With reference to FIGS. 2-8, the composite roof assembly preferablyincludes at least one ceiling sheet material 14, a ceiling materialinsulation layer 16, at least two intermediate ceiling support struts18, at least two ridge ceiling support struts 20 and at least two eaveinside corner ceiling support struts 22. Each intermediate ceilingsupport strut 18 and eave inside corner ceiling support strut 22 areattached between two adjacent rafters 108. Each ridge ceiling supportstrut 20 is attached to two adjacent rafters 108 adjacent a ridge 122 ofthe roof 120 and vertically aligned below the roof 120 ridge purlins128. Each eave inside corner ceiling sheet material support strut 22 isattached to define an inside corner between a roof 120 and a side wall124 sheet materials 14, 30 of the metal building 100.

One end of the ceiling sheet material 14 is inserted behind the eaveinside corner ceiling sheet material support strut 22, above theintermediate ceiling sheet material support struts 18, above the ridgeceiling sheet material support strut 20 adjacent a ridge 122 of the roof120 and securely attached to the nearest ridge ceiling support strut 20with fasteners or the like. The other end of the ceiling sheet material14 is attached to either a foundation 118 or a floor 126 of the metalbuilding 100 with adhesive, a tensioning device 24 or any other suitablemeans.

With reference to FIGS. 10 a-10 h, a variety of tensioning devicesinclude a turnbuckle tensioning device 202, a right angle take-uptensioning device 204, a hook and threaded rod tensioning device 206, aratchet strap tensioning device 208, a turning shaft tensioning device210, a single adjustable strut tensioning device 212, a bi-directionaladjustable strut tensioning device 214 and a strap winch tensioningdevice 216.

Alternatively, one end of the sheet material 14 is secured to thefoundation 118 or the floor 126 on one side of the metal building 100and the other end of the sheet material 14 is inserted around theexterior side of one eave inside corner ceiling support strut 22,inserted over the intermediate ceiling sheet material support strut(s)18, inserted over the two ridge ceiling sheet material support struts20, inserted over the opposite side intermediate ceiling sheet materialsupport strut(s) 18, inserted over the opposite side eave inside corner,ceiling sheet material support strut 22 and finally secured with atensioning device 24 or any other suitable means to the foundation 118or floor 126 on an opposing side of the metal building 100. Significanttension is typically required to limit deflection when supporting theload of the material insulation layer without the intermediate fastenersand the resultant thermal bridging common to all known prior art. Theceiling insulation layer 16 is laid on the at least one ceiling sheetmaterial 14 and includes an insulation thickness that extends upward tonear the bottom of the plurality of purlins 110. Although not required,an air flow path is desired between the material insulation layer 16 andthe bottom of the plurality of purlins 110 to allow cooler, more denseair to flow toward the eave purlin 134 to more efficiently complete themovement of the heat energy up over the purlins 110 to the ridge 122 andallow the cooler, more dense air is allowed to flow back down toward theeave purlin 134. Open web purlins and joists are not shown, but allowthe heat energy, humidity and air to flow in all directions without thisefficiency concern. FIGS. 12-13 show a plurality of inner vent spacers38 that include air vent holes 39 which would be installed on the underside of the bottom flange 132 of the plurality of solid web purlins 110,128 to ensure an air circulation path from ridge to eave. The ceilingheat collecting air gap layer 10 is created between a top of the ceilingmaterial insulation layer 16 and a bottom of the roof panel 112.Preferably the roof sheeting panels 112 are connected to the tops of thepurlins 110 with a plurality of thermal conductive fasteners 26 tomaximize thermal conduction from the plurality of thermally conductiveroof sheeting panels 112 into the plurality of conductive, radiativeroof purlins 110, 128, 134. With reference to FIG. 14, maximizingconduction will enhance the heat transfer, enhance the heat collectionin the air gap layer 10, enhance the heat concentration at the highestpoint of the air gap layer 10 closest the ridge 122 and enhance overallefficiency of heat energy collection at the heat collection fins 94 ofthe heat transfer pipe 92 of the metal building building 100. Heattransfer fluid 93 circulates inside the heat transfer pipe 92 powered byeither a pump or compressor (not shown).

FIGS. 18-20 illustrate a preferred alternative multi-vent 74 to atypical metal roof ridge cap 77, 79 of FIGS. 21-22. The ridge mountedmulti-vent 74 extends through the ridge 122 of the roof 120 andpreferably extends a length of the roof ridge 122. The ridge mountedmulti-vent 74 is located between two ridge purlins 128 and between thetwo ridge ceiling support struts 20. FIG. 20 illustrates a plurality ofmulti-vent box side panel extensions 154 and a plurality of multi-ventbox end panel extensions 152 which attach to the bottoms of theplurality of multi-vents modules 74 to fill the open space to thebottoms of the two ridge ceiling support struts 20 shown in FIG. 4. Ifthe preferred multi-vent is not used and a typical ridge cap 77, 79 isused. a single ridge ceiling support strut centered below the ridge lineis sufficient to support the ceiling sheet material and the overlyingmaterial insulation layer.

With reference to FIGS. 12-13, each metal building 100 composite wallstructure includes an exterior metal wall sheeting panel 114, anoptional exterior girt mounted vent spacer 36, a girt 106 in the air gap12, the interior mounted girt vent spacer 38, an exterior side wallsheet material which may typically be an extension of the ceiling sheetmaterial 14, or may be an independent exterior wall sheet material 30, amaterial insulation layer 32, 34, and an interior wall material 28, 31.

A plurality of optional girt exterior flange mounted vent spacers 36include a plurality of through air flow openings 37, if desired toincrease the heat flow area upward around the girts. The interior girtflange mounted vent spacers 38 are attached to an interior flange 132 ofthe girt 106. The interior girt spacers 38 include a plurality ofthrough air flow openings 39, if desired to increase the heat flow areaaround the interior girt flanges. An exterior surface of the wall sheetmaterial 14, 30 abuts the plurality of interior flange mounted girtspacers 38. With reference to FIGS. 25-26, a wall material insulationlayer 32, 34 is secured to a vertical portion of the wall sheet material14, 30 with bi-directional impaling hangers 156 by first impaling thesheet material impaling arrows 160 through the sheet material 14, 30 forsupport and then impaling the insulation layer 32, 34 on the oppositeside hanger insulation impaling arrows 162 with any suitable method ordevice. A top edge of each side wall interior insulation covering sheetmaterial 28 is preferably attached to the ceiling sheet material 14 withadhesive, fasteners or other suitable attachment means, such that theexterior surface of insulation covering wall sheet material 28 contactsan interior surface of the wall insulation layer 32 which is typicallyfiber glass blanket or batt insulation. A bottom edge of each interiorinsulation covering wall sheet material 28 is attached at its base witha tensioning device 24, adhesive, fasteners or any other suitableattachment method. A plurality of wall heat collecting air gap layers 12are created between an interior facing surfaces of the exterior wallsheeting panels 114 and the exterior facing surfaces of the side wallsheet material layer 14 which are typically extensions of the ceilingsheet layer 14.

The outer end wall sheet material 30 abuts to the plurality of innergirt flange vent spacers 38. A top end of first installed exterior endwall sheet material 30 is preferably attached to the ceiling sheetmaterial 14 with adhesive, fasteners or other suitable attachment means,but may alternatively be attached to the end wall rafter 108 or to endwall girts 106 as limited by accessibility of an individual application.A bottom end of each first installed, exterior end wall sheet material30 is attached to the foundation 118 or floor 126 with the tensioningdevice 24, adhesive or any other suitable attachment device and methods.FIGS. 10 a-10 h illustrate various styles of tensioning devices whichmay be used to apply tension to the ceiling or wall sheet material 28,31. Wall material insulation layers 32, 34 preferably are suspended fromthe interior surfaces of the first installed, exterior wall sheetmaterial 14, 30.

The plurality of bi-directional impaling suspension hangers 156 are usedto suspend the wall material insulation layers 32,34 without anyconductive thermal bridges to the wall girts 106. The exterior facingimpaling arrows 160 impale the exterior wall sheet material for support.The insulation layer 32, 34 is impaled on the opposing impaling arrows162 to support the insulation in suspension without any thermal bridgingto the exterior wall girts and panels. A top end of each secondinstalled, interior wall sheet material 28, 31 is preferably attached tothe ceiling sheet material 14 with adhesive, fasteners or other suitableattachment means, such that its exterior surface contacts an interiorsurface of the wall insulation layer 32, 34. A bottom end of each secondinstalled, interior wall sheet material 28, 31 is attached at its basewith a tensioning device 24 or any other suitable attachment device andmethod. The end wall heat collecting air gap layer 12 is created betweenan interior facing surface of the exterior end wall sheeting panels 114and the exterior facing surface of the first installed, exterior endwall sheet material 30. The side wall heat collecting air gap layer 12is created between an interior facing surface of the exterior wallsheeting panels 114 and the exterior facing surface of the firstinstalled, exterior side wall sheet material 14, 30.

With reference to FIGS. 1 a, 10-11, 16-17 and 23-24 the plurality ofwall ducts include side wall ducts and end wall ducts. The ducts arejoined in series with a plurality of connection couplings 57. Theplurality of side wall ducts 40, 42, 44 generally have a horizontalorientation. The plurality of side wall ducts preferably include twoside wall eave roof ducts 40, two sidewall upper wall ducts 42, twosidewall base ducts 44. The side wall eave roof ducts 40 provide anindependent air flow path from the exterior air to the roof air gaplayer. The upper side wall air flow duct provides and independent airflow path which communicates with the exterior air and the air gap layer12. The plurality of end wall ducts include upper wall ducts 48 with anorientation generally matching the roof slope along the top of the endwall air gap layer 12. The plurality of the end wall base ducts 50 havea horizontal orientation along the base of the air gap layer 12. Theplurality of end wall ducts preferably include two upper wall ducts 48and two end wall base ducts 50. Two subterranean air ducts 46 andsubterranean tube ducts 72 connected between the two opposite wallsubterranean air ducts 46 also may be installed to pre-condition airused for ventilation, heating, cooling and dehumidification. Each duct40-50 is preferably fabricated from an extruded rectangular (preferablysquare) tube 54 illustrated in FIG. 16. The tube 54 preferably includesa plurality of air flow holes 56 formed through one or more sidesthereof. With reference to FIG. 17, a damper strip slot 58 is formed inat least one sides side of the tube 54 to receive a damper strip 60. Thedamper strip 60 includes a plurality of holes 62, which may be alignedwith the plurality of air flow holes 56 to allow air flow into the tube54 or to prevent air flow into the tube 54. Any suitable duct actuationdevice 64 may be used to slide the damper strip 60 in the damper stripslot 58. FIG. 1 illustrates a cut-away perspective view of the generalspacial locations of the wall duct and eave line roof duct communicatingwith the air gap layers 10, 12 of the metal building 100. The ducts neednot be installed continuously, nor the full lengths of the buildingwalls but only as desired to provide a useful function.

Each sidewall eave roof duct 40 is located below a lengthwise eavepurlin 134. The side wall eave roof duct 40 may be constructed of anysuitable material and used to replace the eave purlin 134 and providethe intended combined functions of both the eave line roof duct 40 andthe eave purlin 134. Each end wall upper wall duct 48 is located belowan end wall eave channel 136 or below the ends of the roof purlins 110,128, 134 if there is no end wall eave channel 136. The side wall, endwall, and subterranean ducts 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 are capable ofreceiving outside air or interior space air through either air flowholes 56 or through branch ducts 63. Typically there would be anoperable damper strip 60 or an operable louver 67 to open or close theair flow holes 56 or branch ducts 63 to air flows. The side wall upperwall duct 42 is located below the sidewall eave roof ducts 40. The upperwall ducts 42, 48 and base wall ducts 44, 50 communicate with the airgap layers 12 of the walls. The upper side wall ducts 42 allow heat andair in the wall air gap layers 12 to communicate with the roof air gaplayers 10 directly or through eave line roof duct 40.

With reference to FIG. 15, a heat collection coil/dehumidifier 66 ispreferably retained inside the sidewall upper wall air gap layer 12 orinside the upper wall ducts 42 at this same general location. An coilbracket 68 is secured to one edge of the side wall heatcollection/dehumidifier coil 66 and a lower mounting bracket 70 issecured to the other edge of the heat collection/dehumidifier coil 66.With reference to FIG. 10, a blower 65 may be used to transfer heat andair from the wall heat collection air gap layer 12 to an interior spaceof the metal building 100. The side wall base ducts 44 and the end wallbase duct 50 are located adjacent the wall panel 114 and above the floor126. Ends of the side wall ducts 40, 42, 44 and ends of the end ducts48, 50 are preferably closed with a duct end cap 59 illustrated in FIG.16. The base ducts 44, 50 may be made of a suitable material and used toreplace a base support channel (not shown) and provide the intendedfunctions of both the base ducting 44, 50 and of the base structuralsupport channel 116.

With reference to FIG. 9, the two opposing side wall subterranean airducts 46 are located at a base perimeter of the metal building 100,preferably at or below floor level and which extends the side walllength of the metal building 100. One side wall subterranean air duct 46communicates with the interior air space of the metal building 100through at least one branch duct 63 or the plurality of duct modulestubes 54 air flow holes 56. The opposing side wall subterranean ductcommunicates with the exterior air through at least one opposing branchduct 63 to the exterior air. A plurality of subterranean tubing 72 islocated below the floor 126 of the building at a depth of about 6 to 9feet, which run parallel to each other in the earth with the opposingsubterranean tubing 72 ends connected to the two opposing subterraneanducts 46. Air flowed through the subterranean ducts 46 flows through thesubterranean tubing 72 under the building floor 126 will be cooled by areduced temperature of the earth in contact with the subterranean tubing72. One end of the plurality of subterranean tubing 72 is connected toone of the two lengthwise subterranean air tubing ducts 46 and the otherend of the plurality of foundation tubing 72 is connected to a second ofthe two lengthwise subterranean air tubing ducts 46.

It is preferable that the plurality of foundation tubing 72 be orientedeither parallel to the end walls of the building or parallel to the sidewalls of the building. It is preferred that the plurality ofsubterranean tubing 72 be connected to either the opposing sidewallsubterranean ducts 46 or to opposing end wall subterranean tubing ducts(not shown). It is possible to use more than one subterranean duct andtubing system under the floor 126 of the metal building 100 at differentdepths to condition additional volumes of ventilation air flowingthrough them. The subterranean tubes 72 should be sloped to a low pointand connected to a liquid water drain pipe 71 which connects to a liquidwater reservoir 73 from which the condensation water can be stored andrecycled for other uses.

With reference to FIGS. 9, 18-20, the ridge mounted multi-vent 69includes a plurality of vent modules 74 attached to each other end toend in series. The plurality of vent modules 74 are secured in series toeach other with bolts or any suitable attachment device or method. Eachvent module 74 includes a box unit 76 and a cover 78. The box unit 76includes a vent base 80, two end walls 82, two side walls 84 and two boxside flanges 86. The two end walls 82 extend upward from opposing endsof the vent base 80 and two side walls 84 extend upward from opposingsides of the vent base 80. A single flange 86 extends outward from a topof each box side wall 84. At least one air opening 88 may be formedthrough each end wall 82 to allow the flow of air between the ventmodules 74. With reference to FIG. 14, a heat transfer pipe hole 90 mayalso be formed through each end wall 82 to receive a heat transfer pipe92. A plurality of heat fins 94 are attached along a length of the heattransfer pipe 92. A trough 96 is placed under the heat transfer pipe 92to catch and channel condensation to a drain (not shown) along itslength.

The cover 78 includes a cover portion 98 and a pair of cover sideflanges 99 disposed on opposing side edges thereof. The cover portion 98preferably includes a curved cross section. The cover side flange 99extends from each side of the cover portion 98. A first sealing material(not shown) may be placed between the cover side flanges 99 and the boxside flanges 86. A second sealing material (not shown) may be placedbetween the cover portion ends 98 and the box end wall 82 top edges. Thecover 78 is preferably fabricated from a material, which is lighttranslucent, light collecting, light diffusing or opaque. A damper slot150 may be formed into each side wall 84 to slidably retain the damperstrip 60. A plurality of air flow holes are formed through the sidewalls 84 in the damper slot 150. The damper strip 60 of FIG. 17 may beshifted in the damper slot 150 with an actuation device to allow air toflow through air flow holes 62 and 95. With reference to FIGS. 21-22,the covers 78 of the plurality of vent modules 74 are secured throughtheir flanges 99 to ridge roof sheeting panel closures 75 or to the roofridge purlins 128 structures with fasteners 26 or any suitableattachment device or method.

With Reference to FIGS. 18-20, the box unit 76 may have two end wallextension panels 152 which attach to base of the end walls 82, and twoside wall extension panels 154 which attach to the base of the side wallpanels 84. These extension panels fill any gap between the ridge supportstruts 20 and the base 80 of the multi-vent box unit side walls 84 andend walls 82. A cover 78 with two opposing side flanges 99 may beattached to the side wall extensions from the interior side. The cover78 is preferably fabricated from a material, which is light translucent,light collecting, light diffusing or opaque.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the invention inits broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

1-22. (canceled)
 23. A building insulation system for a building havinga plurality of rafter columns and a plurality of rafters, the pluralityof rafters are supported by the plurality of rafter columns, theplurality of rafters extend from a side wall of the building to a ridgeof a roof, a top of a plurality of purlins are attached to a bottom ofthe roof comprising: a plurality of rigid support struts, each end ofsaid plurality of rigid support struts are supported by one of twoadjacent rafters of the plurality of rafters and two adjacent columns ofthe plurality columns, the plurality of purlins are substantiallyparallel to said plurality of rigid support struts; at least one ceilingsheet material having a first end and a second end, said first end issecured adjacent a floor on one side of the building, said at least oneceiling sheet material is placed over and supported by the plurality ofrigid support struts, said second end is secured adjacent a floor on anopposing side of the building, wherein said at least one ceiling sheetis tensioned to minimize deflection thereof; and a ceiling insulationlayer is retained above said at least one ceiling sheet material, atleast one of said ceiling insulation layer and said at least one ceilingsheet are located below the plurality of purlins.
 24. The buildinginsulation system for a building claim 23, further comprising: a blowerfor transferring air from said ceiling air gap to an interior space ofsaid building.
 25. The building insulation system for a building ofclaim 23, further comprising: one side of a wall insulation layer isattached to a portion of said at least one ceiling sheet material with aplurality of retention devices.
 26. The building insulation system for abuilding of claim 25, further comprising: at least one of said pluralityof retention devices is a bi-directional impaling hanger, saidbi-directional impaling hanger includes at least one sheet materialimpaling arrows and at least one insulation impaling arrow, said atleast one sheet material impaling arrow penetrates through said at leastone ceiling sheet material and said at least one insulation impalingarrow penetrates into said wall insulation layer.
 27. The buildinginsulation system for a building of claim 25, further comprising: atleast one wall sheet material layer is retained against the other sideof said wall insulation layer.
 28. The building insulation system for abuilding of claim 23 25, further comprising: a wall air gap is createdbetween said wall insulation layer and an outer wall of the building.29. A building insulation system for a building having a plurality ofsupport struts retained adjacent a roof of the building of claim 28,further comprising: at least one damper is located between one of theouter wall and roof sheeting of the roof, and one of said at least oneceiling sheet material and said insulation layer, said at least onedamper has at least one opening to transfer air in said wall air gap toat least one of an inside of the building, an outside of the buildingand an air gap above said ceiling insulation layer.
 30. A buildinginsulation system for a building having a plurality of support strutsretained adjacent a roof of the building of claim 23, furthercomprising: a pair of subterranean air ducts being located adjacent afloor of the building, a plurality of subterranean tubing ducts arelocated below the floor, one end of said plurality of subterraneantubing ducts communicate with one of said pair of subterranean airducts, the other end of said plurality of subterranean tubingcommunicate with the other one of said pair of subterranean air ducts.31. (canceled)
 32. The building insulation system of claim 23, furthercomprising: a heat collection coil and dehumidifier includes a heattransfer fluid, said heat collection coil and dehumidifier is mounted ina ceiling air gap of a roof of the building such that said heatcollection coil and dehumidifier is capable of collecting heat energyfrom the ceiling air gap and transferring the heat energy through saidheat transfer fluid flowing through a collection coil of said heatcollection coil and dehumidifier.
 33. The building insulation system fora building of claim 23, wherein: said at least one ceiling sheetmaterial being tensioned to provide fall protection for workmen workingabove said at least one ceiling sheet material.
 34. A buildinginsulation system for a building having a plurality of rafter columns, aplurality of end wall columns, a plurality of girt clips extending fromthe plurality of rafter columns and end wall columns comprising: atleast one wall girt extending substantially a length of an outside wallof the building, one side of said at least one wall girt being attachedto the outside wall, the other side of said at least one wall girt issupported by the plurality of girt clips; at least one inside cornerceiling support strut is retained adjacent a top of one of the pluralityof rafter columns and the plurality of end wall columns; and at leastone wall sheet material having one side in contact with the other sideof said at least one wall girt, an upper end of said at least one wallsheet material is in contact with said at least one inside cornerceiling support strut, a lower end of said at least one wall sheet issecured adjacent a floor of the building.
 35. The building insulationsystem for a building of claim 34, further comprising: at least one airvent spacer is located between said at least one wall sheet and at leastone wall girt, each one of said at least one air vent spacer includes aplurality of vertical openings formed therethrough, one side of said atlast one air vent spacer is in contact with one of the at least one wallgirt, the other side of said at least one air vent spacer is in contactwith said at least one wall sheet material. 36-38. (canceled)
 39. Thebuilding insulation system for a building having a plurality of wallgirts extending from wall structural members of the building of claim34, further comprising: at least one of a damper and a duct is locatedbetween the outer wall and said wall sheet material, said at least oneof said damper and said duct has at least one opening to transfer airfrom the wall air gap between the outer wall and said wall sheetmaterial to at least one of an inside of the building, an outside of thebuilding and an air gap above said ceiling insulation layer.
 40. Thebuilding insulation system for a building having a plurality of wallgirts extending from wall structural members of the building of claim 39wherein: at least one of said at least one duct includes at least oneduct wall, at least one of said at least one duct wall includes at leastone damper strip and at least one damper actuator, each one of said atleast one duct wall includes at least one damper slots formed in alength thereof to slidably retain said at least one damper strip, aplurality of holes are formed through said at least one damper strip, aplurality of holes are formed through said at least one damper slot,said at least one damper actuator slide said at least one damper stripto allow air to flow into or out of said plurality of holes.
 41. Thebuilding insulation system for a building having a plurality of wallgirts extending from wall structural members of the building of claim40, further comprising: a heat collection coil and dehumidifier isretained inside at least one wall air gap.
 42. The building insulationsystem for a building of claim 34 wherein: said at least one ceilingsheet material being tensioned to provide fall protection for workmenworking adjacent said at least one ceiling sheet material.
 43. Abuilding insulation system for a building having a plurality of raftercolumns and a plurality of rafters, the plurality of rafters aresupported by the plurality of rafter columns, the plurality of raftersextend from a side wall of the building to a ridge of a roof, a top of aplurality of purlins are attached to a bottom of the roof, comprising: aplurality of rigid support struts, each end of said plurality of rigidsupport struts are supported by one of two adjacent rafters of theplurality of rafters and two adjacent columns of the plurality columns,the plurality of purlins are substantially parallel to said plurality ofrigid support struts; at least one ceiling sheet material having a firstend and a second end, said first end is secured adjacent a floor on oneside of the building, said at least one ceiling sheet material is placedover and supported by the plurality of rigid support struts, said secondend is secured adjacent a ridge of the building, wherein said at leastone ceiling sheet is tensioned to minimize deflection thereof; and aceiling insulation layer is retained above said at least one ceilingsheet material, at least one of said ceiling insulation layer and saidat least one ceiling sheet are located below the plurality of purlins.44. The building insulation system for a building of claim 43 wherein:said at least one ceiling sheet material being tensioned to provide fallprotection for workmen working above said at least one ceiling sheetmaterial.
 45. The building insulation system for a building of claim 43wherein: one side of a wall insulation layer is attached adjacent to aportion of said at least one ceiling sheet material with a plurality ofretention devices.
 46. The building insulation system for a building ofclaim 45 wherein: at least one of said plurality of retention devices isa bi-directional impaling hanger, said bi-directional impaling hangerincludes at least one sheet material impaling arrows and at least oneinsulation impaling arrow, said at least one sheet material impalingarrow penetrates through said at least one ceiling sheet material andsaid at least one insulation impaling arrow penetrates into said wallinsulation layer.
 47. The building insulation system for a building ofclaim 34, further comprising: a wall insulation layer having one sideretained adjacent to or in contact with an opposing side of said atleast one wall sheet material, wherein an air gap layer is createdbetween the outer wall of the building and said at least one wall sheetmaterial, said air gap layer having the thickness of a depth of one ofthe plurality of wall girts.
 48. The building insulation system for abuilding of claim 47, further comprising: at least one second wall sheetmaterial layer is retained against the opposing side of said wallinsulation layer.
 49. The building insulation system for a building ofclaim 48, further comprising: said wall insulation layer is attached tosaid at least one second wall sheet material with a plurality ofretention devices.
 50. The building insulation system for a building ofclaim 48 wherein: said at least one hanger device is a bi-directionalimpaling hanger, said bi-directional impaling hanger includes at leastone sheet material impaling arrows and at least one insulation impalingarrow, said at least one sheet material impaling arrow penetrates saidat least one wall sheet material and said at least one insulationimpaling arrow penetrates said wall insulation layer.
 51. A buildinginsulation system for a building having a plurality of rafter columnsand a plurality of rafters, the plurality of rafters are supported bythe plurality of rafter columns, the plurality of rafters extend from aside wall of the building to a ridge of a roof, a top of a plurality ofpurlins are attached to a bottom of the roof, comprising: a plurality ofrigid support struts, each end of said plurality of rigid support strutsare supported by one of two adjacent rafters of the plurality of raftersand two adjacent columns of the plurality columns, the plurality ofpurlins are substantially parallel to said plurality of rigid supportstruts; at least one ceiling sheet material having a first end and asecond end, said first end is in contact with an inside corner supportstrut of said plurality of rigid support struts, said second end is incontact with a ridge ceiling support strut of said plurality of rigidsupport struts, wherein said at least one ceiling sheet is tensioned tominimize deflection thereof; and a ceiling insulation layer is retainedabove said at least one ceiling sheet material, at least one of saidceiling insulation layer and said at least one ceiling sheet are locatedbelow the plurality of purlins.
 52. The building insulation system for abuilding of claim 51, wherein: said at least one ceiling sheet materialbeing tensioned to provide fall protection for workmen working abovesaid at least one ceiling sheet material.